Surprise!!

I had received a package from Things for Wings a week ago.  I had bought another fantastic willow coin swing (thanks to Danita's generosity in letting the swing go!), so I could have one for each of my boys.  When I opened the box, I found a surprise in there!  There was a bag full of beautiful toys, along with a cryptic note from the gifter.  Come to find out, the gift was from Peggy (Sadieladie1994 on Avian Avenue).  It was a totally unexpected gift and so sweet of her!  

At the time, I had to thank Peggy in private because Danita wanted to hold a guessing game as to what theme her new toy collection is, and the toys I received were part of that new collection.  Now that the guessing game is over, she said I can post the pics of these super cute "Island Hopping" toys!  :D  I'm not sure what these toys are named, but they should all be named "Fun & Fabulous"!  Hehe.

The toys are so cute I really didn't want to give it to the birds, but I caved in and gave them ONE. LOL  I put the toy on the Java tree in the living room and shoved Nutriberries into the wicker ball to entice them.  I let Raptor go at it first.  He immediately started shredding feverishly to get to the treats.  He also took a few chunks out of the balsa blocks.  When he was done, there was about half the wicker ball left - ideal for my non-chewer/forager, Mika.  I put more Nutriberries in the half-destroyed wicker ball and Mika went to town!  I was quite surprised!  

This toy was a HUGE success!  As of today, there is nothing left of the toy except for a little bit of wicker and raffia.  Raptor has destroyed the rest of the balsa and yucca pieces.  Thank you, Peggy, for such a generous gift and thank you, Danita, for always coming out with adorable new toy collections!!  :)

The Easter Bunny is here!

The Easter Bunny is here, the Easter Bunny is here!!  ;)  Yes, Easter-themed toys from Things for Wings - my FAVORITE shreddables site!  I got two Fresh Picked Carrots, two Bunny Dingles, a Beak and Baubles, and some wicker parts!  Oh, and some leather parts that I forgot to include.  Look how cute everything is!  I love it all...  <3

Mika has his Fresh Picked Carrots and Bunny Dingle in his cage - and they will remain untouched for the duration they are in there.  Anything shreddable I put in his cage is just pure decoration.  LOL  Raptor has his Bunny Dingle in his cage and the Fresh Picked Carrots on his Java stand.  I was actually surprised that he played around with the bunny for a bit while in his cage!!  

With Raptor's Fresh Picked Carrots, I stuffed the basket and carrots with yummy treats to forage for.  As soon as I put him on his stand he went bananas trying to get to the food!!  I had the hardest time getting any clear photos of him because he and the basket kept moving around from his tugging and chewing.  These are the only shots that came out decent (with my phone, as usual - I promise I'll learn to use my camera this summer!!  Or at least read the manual...  >_< ):

MY basket!  Stay away!

Ooooh...  what's inside??

I'll get you, you yummy almond!

Shhhh!!  What was that?!

Quit taking pics so I can continue foraging, please.

Homemade swings.

Natacha guessed right!  I ordered more s/s skewers to make swings for the boys!  Not just any swings, though...  foraging swings.  I know Raptor will love having yet another place to retrieve treats from, while Mika will just let the treats stare him in the face if he can't get to them within the first minute or so.  :P

I color coordinated the swings - blue to match Raptor's boing and yellow to match Mika's boing.  We all know I love color coordination!!  ;)  We used gum tree branches as the swing base, and added wicker, clear cups, paper cups, etc. to the skewers for foraging opportunities.

Here is the end product of Raptor's swing:

Right side

Left side

Here is Mika's swing:

Right side

Left side

Mika on his new swing!

 

Novice forager.

Both my boys are novice foragers.  

Mika is still only able to chew through a coffee filter or wrestle with a thin piece of cholla to get to a Nutriberry.  He was able to chew through a wicker lily to get to a treat ONCE, but hasn't done it since.  Even a clear cup with loose leather lid is still too complex for him.  He gives up rather easily and will let a treat stare him in the face for weeks on end - poor baby! LOL  

Raptor, on the other hand, is a bit better at foraging, but still a newbie.  Raptor will chew through a coffee filter, piece of thin cholla, wicker, and now, yucca.  He will also occasionally search through his toys to look for hidden treats - but only if he witnesses me placing them there.  

I am continually working on their foraging skills.  Yesterday, I hid almonds and dried papaya (I'm not a big fan of these but it's one of the few treats he will do almost anything for) in one of his Things for Wings toys that has several wicker and yucca parts and hung it on his Java stand.  He immediately went to work!!

Oooooh...  I see treats!!

Yummy!  Papaya!

Do you have to document my EVERY move?!